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A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
King County hopes to fund radio system with tax levy
Parks and Rec Commission to recommend bond to council
County Council approves placing levy lid lift on April 28 special election ballot
BY REBECCA GOURLEY rgourley@maplevalleyreporter.com
BY DENNIS BOX dbox@covingtonreporter.com
King County voters will see a property tax levy on the April 28 special election ballot seeking funds to replace the county’s emergency radio system. The County Council approved the ordinance 8-1 to place the nine-year property tax levy lid lift on the ballot. Councilman Pete von Reichbauer voted against the measure. The lid lift allows the county to collect property taxes above the state limitation. According to Councilman Joe McDermott, the sponsor of the ordinance, the levy will replace the county’s emergency radio system. McDermont said at the March 2 council meeting the levy would raise $273 million. According to county staff the vendor support of the current radio system will end in 2018, which is used by police and fire agencies. David Mendel, Regional Communications services manager, said after 2018 the vendor “level of support” for the radio system will end and the risk of catastrophic failure of the system increases. According to a county release the current system has been in place for about 20 [ more LEVY page 9 ]
A Lesson In Physics
Traci Parker-Johnson, a third grader at Jenkins Creek Elementary, tests out the bicycle wheel gyroscope station during Pacific Science Center’s science on wheels program Feb. 27. In the background is PTA volunteer Julie Sanders.
dbox@covingtonreporter.com
Tanya Mroczek-Amador and her husband, Nelson Amador, founders and directors of the Corner of Love mission in Maple Valley, had more than $6,000 of medications and about $1,350 of personal items stolen from their car in a parking lot at a South Florida hotel. The Amadors were taking the medication to Nicaragua to serve the
remote villages. Since 2000 the Amadors have been organizing numerous annual missions to Nicaragua providing medical and dental care and many other services working through the Corner of Love Christian missionary organization. The Amadors were checking into Kendall Comfort Suites hotel in South Florida when a burglar busted out the window of their rental car and made off with the medications and personal items the couple were taking
The city of Maple Valley needs more places for teens to hang out. That was just one of the unanimous needs a group of residents outlined at the Parks and Recreation Commission workshop Feb. 25. The meeting was focused on open dialogue between the commissioners and the public about two properties, Henry’s Switch and the 216th/276th Street park land. The commission is in the middle of drafting recommendations to MAPLE give to the City CounVALLEY cil regarding what to do with both of those properties. Greg Brown, Parks and Recreation director, said those recommendations won’t be finalized until probably late spring or early summer. The long, thin and heavily wooded terrain of Henry’s Switch inhibits its ability to be developed, whether that is in the form of a park or anything else, Brown said at the workshop last week. The property also features a steep slope on the western edge, and a trail on the east side that runs parallel to state Route 169. Brown said the county has about a 50foot easement on both sides of that trail and is planning on further developing it, [ more PARKS page 9]
REBECCA GOURLEY, The Reporter
Corner of Love medications stolen in South Florida BY DENNIS BOX
Spring Forward | Remember to turn your clocks forward Saturday night for daylight saving time.
to Nicaragua. Tanya Amador wrote in a Facebook message the crime occurred in less than eight minutes after they arrive at the hotel and were checking in to get the room key. The car was locked and parked in front of the lobby. “We traveled from Nicaragua to Fort Meyers on Feb. 23, picking up 70 percent of these items from the family we stayed with; we ordered them online and shipped them to their house, and the rest of the items we picked up in South Florida on Feb. 26, right before arriving at the hotel,” she wrote. The Corner of Love is taking donations to help offset the cost of replacing the medications, which the [ more CORNER page 18 ]
The window in Tanya and Nelson Amador’s car was busted out and medication and personal items were stolen in South Florida. Courtesy photo